Horrible Histories - Grossest Facts!

Some of the most disgusting facts from the hit CBBC series

Death by cow pat

Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus suffered from an illness that made his body swell up with water. He tried to sweat it off by burying himself in a pile of animal poo, but stayed in too long and died of overheating.

The court farter

Egyptian hair treatments

The ancient Egyptians thought they could cure baldness by rubbing fat from hippos, crocodiles, cats and snakes on their heads. Their cure for grey hair was made out of rotten donkey liver. I think I’d rather go bald.

Ancient medicine

Roman whoopee!

The Roman Emperor Elagabalus was a famous prankster. When he wasn’t setting dangerous animals on people for a laugh, he was inventing practical jokes – including an early version of the Whoopie cushion!